Motion picture film



April 18, 1933.

J. W. COFFMAN MOTION PICTURE FILM Filed Sept. 25, 1928 lNVE/VTOH J W COFFMAN is; D o a o Tom/by q H.H df

' Mn Apr. is, 1933 UNITED STA ES PATENT orrlca- IO] corn, 0! JAOKSON'EBIGETS, YORK, ASSIGIOB TO BILL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES INCORPORATED, OI NEW YORK, I. Y. A CORPORATION 01' mm YORK MOTION PICTURE m Application filed September 25, 1928. Serial No. 808,188.

This invention relates to improvements in photographic processes.

In preparing motion picture films it is necessary that the'final positive rint shall have an overall contrast within de nite limits; It is well known in the photographic art that the overall contrast of the final print is equal to the product of the contrast to which the positive film is developed multi lied by the contrast to which the negative lm was develo ed. In order to make positive prints inte igently it is therefore necessar that the contrast to which the negative was eveloped be known. A common method of roviding a. record from which the contrast to which the negative was developed may be obtained,

is to print on the negative film from a standard tablet a sensitometer strip. These sensitometer strips are well known in the art and com rise a series of frames usually ten in num r varyin in density from the density of unexposed" lm to substantial opacity.

Thus the end frames re resent the maximum and minimum of trans ucency while the intermediate frames represent graded steps between such values. By means of a diiiused printing light the sensitometer tablet is printed on the negative film. After the negas tages. A moving picture is made up of many scenes and each scene may be a separate ,film length. On the end of each of these film lengths will appear a sensitometer record. After the positive of the film has been rinted and cut and reassembled, it frequentlyhapns that the sensitometer strips accom anyng the original portions, are cut off an lost.

As a result if at some later time it becomes desirable to, rint additional positives of the film, there is no data at hand which will rovide information as to the proper deve opment for the positive film unless extensive bookkeeping arrangements are made so that a record of each portion of thefilm is available at any time it is required.

It is the object of this invention to provide a sensitometer record for negative film which cannot be destroyed and which will be available as long as the negative film is available.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown a motion picture film, WlllCh in this case has been assumed to carry both sound and picture records. The film is provided with the usual sprocket holes 1-1. The picture portion of the film is occupied by the successive frames 2-2. To the left of the pictures as shown in the drawing is a sound track 3. It is, of course, obvious that the invention may be ap lied to standard picture film which does not ave the sound accompaniment in which case the picture frames occupy sub stantially all of the space between the sprocket holes. On the right hand edge of the central portion of the film is indicated a sensitometer record made from a standard tablet. In this case it has been assumed that the len each frame of the sensitometer-record 18 onehalf that of a picture frame andrelated to the sprocket holes as shown. It is, of course, obvious that the sensitometer frames may be of any convenient length. I

- In accordance with this invention the unexposed negative film is run throu h a rinting device which will expose on t e e ge of the film beyond the s rocket'holes or on any unused portion of t e film a sensitometer record obtained from a standard tablet. After the unused portion of the film has been exposed at recurring intervals at probably 3 to 4 feet throughout the length of the film,

gth ofthe film is ready for use. In passing through the motion icture camera the unused portionof the 1m must be -masked off to prevent additional exposure. When the nega-' tive film is developed the sensitometer record will be developed along with the picture and sound records and since it recurs every few feet it will be available as long as the negative is available. I

The drawing shows the sensitometer record in developed form and indicates in con-' ventional manner how the successive frames vary in exposure longitudinally of the film and shade from the darkest at 4 down to the lightest at 5. The recurring nature of this v sensitometer record'is indicated at 6 and Y of the drawing. It will be noted that the 5 -sensinbomeiaric records each em the same ecgurlete dimensional relation to the speech-e13 It is believed fso be obvious thei fizhe sensitomeeer record may be printed on em portion 1 of the film which is not to he use tor the normal photographic purposes. Thus in the shown, in case no sound. track is he hecompeny the picture the space at present used by the sound track could he used for the sensitometer recordi. Simiieriy, it is else obviously within the scope of the invention to utilizehoth ed es of the film in eeeggerefi relation in eccorence with the convenience of ehe manufacturer; 29 at is clsimec'i is:

A hand of sensitized in having thereon at intervals throughout ifizs length latent images of sensitometric strips, enfl hevinge ion 'tudinal series of exactly spaced perfo- 25 melons, each sensitometric strip ime e vex-ying in exposure longitudinally of t e bend in an accurate dimensional relation to the perforefiziens.

In Witness'whereof, I hereunto subscribe 39 my name ehis 21st day of September, 1928.

JUE W eeeemee 

